15 Slow Selling Cars That Could Save You Big Bucks in Today’s Market

Why is it important to know which cars sell the slowest and how that can be good for you as a car shopper? Simple: When cars are sitting in dealerships for longer periods of time, you’d find that the dealers are more open to price negotiations and the automaker may even slash prices to help get the cars off dealership lots.

This may not be the ROI they hoped for, but it’s certainly good news for consumers looking to save money. You’re more likely to get higher incentives like cashback deals, larger rebates, and additional dealer discounts on slow-selling models. The best part is that these cars might be higher-end models with premium packages. This is especially important in an economy where $47,000 as the average price of a new car is considered a price drop. Trusted market intelligence agencies like iSeeCars and CarEdge help consumers follow these market trends by researching and publishing their findings.

CarEdge uses what it calls Market Day Supply (MDS) measurement to determine how long it takes dealerships to sell a particular car model. Using these insights, we know what’s moving fast and what’s not, and now we know which models we’re more likely to save money on.

Dodge Hornet

The Dodge Hornet is literally number one on the list of new cars with the longest sojourn in car dealerships, with nearly 15,000 unsold cars from over two years of supply. In other words, many Dodge Hornets supplied to dealerships two years ago are still there.

CarEdge noted that Stellantis’ CDJR (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM) are not having as much fun in the market as they used to, as the conglomerate is actually leading the list of slowest-selling cars as of March 2024.

Fiat 500X

According to CarEdge, the Fiat 500X subcompact C-SUV has moved just 46 units in 45 days, with 560 units waiting in dealerships for buyers.

With Stellantis discontinuing the car for the 2024 MY, you might just meet a more lenient salesperson at the dealership if you’re interested in the 500X. Automakers and dealerships are often eager to clear out what’s left of a discontinued model to make room for current or replacement models.

Volvo C40

The Volvo C40 sold just 165 cars in 45 days. It takes 429 days on average to sell the car, with 1,572 units currently unsold. The C40’s delayed relocation from dealerships is probably due to its relative premium price, with an average selling price of $56,665, according to CarEdge.

The IrishTimes called it an “expensive conundrum” back in 2022 because it had a lot going for it in terms of looks and performance but skimped on luxury details in the interior trim. Still, if you’ve always liked the C40’s coupe-like roofline and impressive all-electric performance, this might be a good time to expect a wiggle room in the MSRP.

Ford Ranger

The F-Series Ford remains the best-selling pickup truck stateside, with over 750,000 units sold in 2023. America’s favorite trucks, after the F-Series, rank from the Chevrolet Silverado to the RAM pickup, GMC Sierra, and Toyota Tacoma.

The Ford Ranger is conspicuously missing from the list of top-5 because it is actually among the slowest-selling automobiles, shifting a paltry 526 units in 45 days versus the F-Series’ 52,412 in March 2024.

Subaru Solterra

The Solterra is Subaru’s first EV, and anyone who knows more than two things about the auto industry knows that Subaru makes some of the most reliable and innovative cars. The Solterra features styling elements of the Mach-E and Volvo’s Recharge range, and the automaker called it the most advanced car they’ve ever built.

With a $45,000 starting MSRP (for the 2024 model) and an average street selling price of $50,103, one can be forgiven to be happy they still have 3,937 units lounging at car dealerships right now.

Audi SQ8

Would we actually go for this Audi even if we get a price offer below the current average selling price of over $110,000? Well, it’s a fact that the SQ8’s interior alone comes more than halfway to justifying the money. Nearly every surface in the interior boasts luxury materials.

When you add Audi’s renowned build quality and the in-car gizmos, yes, $100k seems fair for this premium midsize SUV. But with only 201 sold in 45 days against a 350 MDS, we don’t mind getting a –more-than-fair better price.

Genesis GV60

So, it takes 347 days, according to CarEdge, to sell all new Genesis GV60 models supplied to dealerships at a time? And you thought people can’t wait to snap up this attractive luxury electric C-SUV from Hyundai’s luxury division.

The GV60 is currently the only G-model that features the Crystal Sphere: A cool (or silly, depending on who you ask) glass orb that hides the shifter until the driver needs it. The electric powertrain delivers 314 horsepower and an EPA-rated 248 miles.

Maserati Levante

It’s rather surprising that a Maserati ranks at the bottom and not at the top of the slowest-selling new cars, considering that the cheapest Levante comes with a $102,000 starting MSRP.

It may not rank at the top, but the Maserati Levante, unsurprisingly, found its way to CarEdge’s list of new cars with the highest inventory, taking 333 days to clear out and costing an average of $97,396 on the streets.

Nissan Titan

The Nissan Titan has not ranked among the fastest-selling trucks in America in a while, although it is definitely one of the most popular models. It managed to sell a little over 19,000 units in all of 2023, and it currently has the highest unsold stock of new cars (5,718) after the Dodge Hornet.

Make no mistake: The Titan is an excellent truck, though it doesn’t measure up to the strength and grit of the Silverado. The Titan is simply a victim of stiffer competition.

Nissan Leaf

Though ranking at the bottom 10, it’s still surprising to find the “green” Leaf on this list at all. It has never found a chair on the list of top-10 cheapest new cars, but it has moved ahead as an affordable EV, thanks to a competitive TCO (True Cost of Ownership).

Using CarEdge’s depreciation calculator, the Nissan Leaf will have a $21,575 average residual value intact after five years of ownership. That said, the Leaf has 2,832 units waiting in dealerships, with just 468 units sold in 45 days. The 2024 Nissan Leaf now starts at $29,280

Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid

From this number downwards, we’re looking at the top-5 slowest-selling used cars in today’s market, and by that, we mean two to five-year-old models. That said, the plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica is first on the list after the Genesis GV60.

In other words, the GV60 shares garages with new and used slowest-selling cars as of March 2024, according to iSeeCars’ report, so we skip to the next in line. This is an interesting turn of events because the Pacifica topped the list of fuel-efficient 6-cylinder cars in 2023.

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Based on the iSeeCars report, the EQS sedan ranks number one among new cars with the highest inventory at a time, which is how they know which models are selling faster or slower. The SUV model also ranks top on the list, coming in third after the Mustang Mach-E.

Taking an average of 129.7 days to sell means the EQS is a tougher sell compared to other new cars, both in the luxury and regular segments. The SUV is also one of the slowest-selling used cars, which means the EQS can sit in garages for over a year.

Lincoln Corsair

With an average price of $41,111, it takes an average of 73.4 days to sell used models of the Lincoln Corsair, giving it the number 4 position in iSeeCar’s updated list of slowest-selling new cars. Often compared to the Ford Escape, the Corsair uses a more powerful engine, but iSeeCars reckons the Escape is an overall better car.

Land Rover Discovery Sport

The Discovery Sport’s top position in the list of slow-selling used cars probably vindicates the UK CarBuyer’s scathing review that ranked the SUV 49^th out of 75 cars in its owner satisfaction survey.

This is despite the Land Rover Discovery Sport boasting a 5-star crash test rating by the Euro NCAP. Furthermore, the Discovery Sport ranked an off-putting 73^rd out of 75 cars rated by CarBuyer in the almighty reliability index.

Audi S8

Last on our list of 15 slowest-selling cars in today’s market is the stunning Audi S8, taking an average of 70.2 days to get off dealership lots. With 74,145 units sold, the Q5 is Audi’s best-selling model, while the S8 ranks among the slowest selling with 428 A8/S8 sold so far this year.

The S8’s poorer market performance might be a good thing for anyone who won’t mind an impressively technologically advanced sport sedan that matches every buck with a bang.